The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“Whoever said, ‘Lā ilāha illā Allāh,’ and had even an atom’s weight of goodness (faith) in his heart will come out of Hellfire.”

Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 44

To understand how the possible meaning of this Hadith may actually unfold, let me present a personal reflection before you.

From this Hadith, we learn about Allah being Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim, but how will that tiny amount of faith—an atom’s weight—be exposed? 

Surah Al-Humazah gives us a striking description that invites us to reflect on this.

Surah Al-Humazah 

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

وَيۡلٌ لِّـكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُّمَزَةِ ۙ‏ ١

Woe to every scorner and mocker,

اۨلَّذِىۡ جَمَعَ مَالًا وَّعَدَّدَهٗ ۙ‏ ٢

Who amasses wealth and keeps counting it,

يَحۡسَبُ اَنَّ مَالَهٗۤ اَخۡلَدَهٗ​ ۚ‏ ٣

Thinking that his wealth will make him immortal.

  كَلَّاۖ لَيُنۢبَذَنَّ فِي ٱلۡحُطَمَةِ ٤

No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher.

وَمَاۤ اَدۡرٰٮكَ مَا الۡحُطَمَةُ ؕ‏ ٥

And what will make you realize what the Crusher is?

نَارُ اللّٰهِ الۡمُوۡقَدَةُ ۙ‏ ٦

It is the fire of Allah, fully kindled,

الَّتِىۡ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى الۡاَفۡـــِٕدَةِ ؕ‏ ٧

Which will rise over the hearts.

اِنَّهَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ مُّؤۡصَدَةٌ ۙ‏ ٨

Indeed, it will be sealed over them,

فِي عَمَدٖ مُّمَدَّدَةِۭ٩ 

In extended columns.

At first glance, this Surah describes people whose ego makes them believe that their wealth will keep them alive forever

Allah has described their fate in this Surah. 

But what if a person has even a little faith in their heart?

So, when the fire reaches the heart, what will it do? Will it burn it, and will every part keep burning until it is crushed?

And if someone has only a small portion of faith in their heart, then what will happen? Will the fire burn that as well? Will that portion of faith also come to an end?

So, let us look at this through the following incident.

The Boycott of Shi‘b Abi Talib

The polytheist leaders of Quraysh imposed a severe three-year social and economic boycott against Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his clan, Banu Hashim. They hung a formal pact inside the Kaaba that strictly banned all trade, marriage, and communication with the clan until they handed over the Prophet.

To stay safe, the Muslims and their relatives retreated to a narrow valley called Shi'b Abi Talib. They faced extreme starvation and hardship during these three years, often surviving only on tree leaves and scarce smuggled food.

The blockade finally ended when a miracle occurred and termites ate the entire unjust document, leaving only Allah’s name untouched. Upon discovering this, a few sympathetic tribal leaders formally tore down the pact and allowed everyone to return home safely.

This incident gives us a way to reflect on the Hadith: just as the termites consumed the document while Allah’s name remained, perhaps the description of the Fire reaching the heart invites us to contemplate how, despite punishment, the faith Allah placed within a believer’s heart is not ultimately lost.”

Because Allah says in the Qur’an:

Surah At-Taghabun 64:17

إِن تُقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَـٰعِفْهُ لَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ شَكُورٌ حَلِيمٌ

So, if you do not want that fire to touch you, then from today itself, start cleansing your heart.

If you want to know the reality behind the moth and flame story, 

Read this article.

👉  WHAT IS DIVINE LOVE? THE REALITY BEHIND THE MOTH & FLAME STORY